"This thread worries me intensely.
The passengers react in whatever manner they consider appropriate because they consider they know better than the crew?"
This post worries me .....
I may think the pax reaction innapropriate but I can at least credit that folks who have a belief that their lives are in immediate danger may well behave this way.....
Part of training and practicing how to react to the unexpected and possible life threatening scenarios is about overcoming the "fight or flight" instinct and replacing it with one of familiarity/routine to enable more rational and thoughtful processes.......
These people were apparently convinced in their own minds that there was a fire in the cabin ..... the cabin crew failed to reassure them (if they actually had much oppurtunity to)...........
So what would you do if convinced there was a fire in the cabin and the crew were not aware? Sit tight and pray?